The Iola register., 1887-09-16

Mason bounced to her fest with q stifled
exclamation, and clutchcd frantically
At her back hair. Unfortunately she
caught hold of the innocent beetle 1T
SELF. and, giving vent to . shriA
scream that made the rafters OF the
house ring. she threw it violently from
her, to the great CONSERVATION OF
every one in the house, many OF whom
imagined Miss Mason had discovered .
mouse in the pew.
Mr.. Allen pronounced the benedio-
ton and dismissed his congregation.
And naughty Joe Whitney. holding his
cap before his face, choked and gasped.
in the agonies of suppressed laughter.
all the way to the door.
CHAPTER N
The promise of April had given
place to the fulfillments of June. filling
the air with summer sunshine and
beauty. Tad, under the supervision OF
Miss Smith. whose angular features
were shaded by an immense garden
hat, was wedding the pansy-bed in the
front yard. Miss Smith, who was a
great flower-lover, made somewhat OF
a speciality of cultivating sweet-peas
and pansics, which she gave away in
their season with liberal hand.
You would hardly have recognized
Tad in the brown-faced boy. in blue
overalls, bending lovingly over the
quaint, upturned tlower-faces that
pecred into his own. He had taken to
his new vocation with surprising read
mess, and Miss Smith secretly cOngrat-
ulated herself on having at last found
a boy after her own heart, though she
seldom allowed her satisfaction TO show
itself in the form of words.
Here comes that Forrest chap
again." muttered Miss Smith. discon-
tentedly, as she glanced toward an
acknowledgement young man who
was sauntering along the elm-shaded
street; ..Iwish he'd kept away about
his own business, and not come idling
round. taking your attention off'n your
work"
For Mr.. Paul Forrest was one of John
Doty's city boarders, who had scraped
an acquaintance with Tad very soon
after coming to BixpOrt. He seemed
to take q singular interest in Tad.
which, As he explained to Miss Smith
arose from the boys strong resem
blance to his youngest and only brother
who had died year previous-''tht
last one, excepting myself. of a family
of seven," he said. with a sad smile
For Mr.. Forrest did great deal O
smiling. first and last; and. curiou!
enough. Tad. in some vague way. wa
reminded by it of the genial Mr.. Jones
whom he had met in Boston, befor'
coming to Bixport Of course, thi
was simply an absurd fancy on hi
part. The fraudulent Jones was ;
smooth-faced young man. with gold
tipped teeth-while Mr.. Paul FOrres
sported a very glossy black mustache
that had purplish tinge in certail
lights, and tho whitest and most evel
teeth that were ever seen outside
dentists establishments; neither was tn
little blueish scar visible upon MI
Forests white forehead, that Tad ha
noticed upon the intellectual brow @
Jones. Yet, all the same. he often un
consciously connected the two in hi
mind, even while he laughed at hi
own folly in SO doing.
Miss Smith, good-morning-Tad
my boy, how are you?" exclaimed MI
Forrest, with his efftlsive smile. as h
lounged idly up the garden-path. ant
with a GOODNESS peculiar to himself. 50
down on the edge of the garden piazz:
Miss Smith stiflly acknowledged til
greeting, and Tad, glancing up shyl!!
said he was pretty well. He was Ii
tie flattered by Mr.. FORESTS evide,
interest in himself Though he was NJ
i quite sure that he liked it. after all. b
+ had nothing in common with the cit.
bred gentleman. and was rather pu
IS zled to know what Mr.. Forrest coul
|. have in common with himself.
IS Come into the house after you g
G through wedding, Tad; l want you.
N said Miss Smith. stalking past the un
l. Dashed Mr.. Forrest, who sat quite
+ his case, with the ivory head of his Cal
8 between his lips.
VI "Yes'm." was the meek reply. Al
Tad silently continued his work, wis
ID ing that Mr.. Forrest would 60, for
y was very well aware that Miss Smi
r did not at all approve Of the gent
r. mans frequent visitations.
ID In small village like Bixport. whe
y every body's business is public pro
i'd erty, the story of Tad and his travelin
rs sachel was generally known. as W
n also the fact that no attention had ev
e. been paid to Captain Flagg's advertis
ne ment. So it was not strange that NJ
to Forrest should be in possession OF t
as same knowledge. He had referred
It. the matter casually in cOnversati'
m with Tad, declaring that it was Nigh
nc interesting incident in real life-cOn
e. now!
1t $50 You never opened the little al
n sator-skin sachel, to see what was
as Itch. Tad?" suddenly asked MIR. FL
rest, after short pause.
a "Why. no, sir! l haven't key
g, and, if had, don't think it would
I'd just the thing, either" replied Tad.
ke little surprised at the unexpected qu'
n ton.
SIS ..Oh, I don't know" remarked n
n Forrest, coolly; "there might be SON
thing in it that would give You cl'